ABOUT CHRIS

Activism

In 2004, Chris Mason was the campaign manager for Susan Koeck, a candidate for State Representative in the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Koeck's campaign highlighted the right of same-sex couples to marry, while her opponent, State Representative Emile Goguen, sought to remove from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court the four justices who approved the decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health (2003) that made same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts.

Later in 2004, Mason began working as a field organizer for MassEquality, the Boston-based organization created to lead the legislative battle to keep same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts. He became its Assistant Canvass Director, knocking on doors across the state to discuss marriage equality with Massachusetts citizens. Mason was featured in the documentary film, Saving Marriage, highlighting his role working to protect equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.

In 2006, he created TakeMassAction, a watchdog organization dedicated to tracking the radical right in Massachusetts and alerting the LGBT community of upcoming events, rallies, protests, and legislative hearings involving LGBT issues.

On February 5, 2008, Mason was elected to Ward 1 of the Cambridge Democratic City Committee. Later that year, the Cambridge City Manager appointed him to the City of Cambridge GLBT Commission.

On April 27, 2009, at a ceremony in Cambridge City Hall, Mayor Denise Simmons honored Mason for his work on LGBT issues, including fundraising for Cambridge Rindge and Latin School's gay/straight alliance, Project 10 East, and the school's LGBT Families Initiative by means of a Phelps-A-Thon during an anti-gay protest against the school. She presented him with the Key to the City of Cambridge during the ceremony.

On May 10, 2009, Mason set out on a 107-day, 22,000 mile, 48-state trek across the United States in an effort to meet, interview, and share the stories of LGBT Americans, their allies, and their opponents. This project culminated with the documentary film, Driving Equality Across America.

Later in 2009, Mason launched Bated Breath Films, an independent film company focused on social justice and raising awareness by telling the personal stories of people who do not have a voice in the mass media.

In June 2010, at the "Riots to Rights - Celebrating 40 Years of Progress" Cambridge Pride Brunch, Chris was honored by Cambridge Mayor David Maher and received the annual recognition award given to "those who have dedicated their lives to improving the GLBT community".

On September 20, 2012, Mason was presented with the Lavender Rhino Award by The History Project to honor him as an emerging activist whose impact on the local GLBT communities deserves recognition.

On July 31, 2014, Mason's documentary film about LGBT rights across the country, Driving Equality Across America, premiered at an event in Boston and was later released on Amazon.com.

Targeted by Hate Group

In May 2007, November 2008, and again in May 2009, Mason was targeted by MassResistance, a conservative organization based in Massachusetts and characterized/identified as a "hate group" by theSouthern Poverty Law Center. The organization posted false information, photos, and videos of Mason, along with edited selections of his writings, on their website, describing him as a "prominent homosexual activist" with "a long history of hateful and angry activities and writing against pro-family groups and individuals." MassResistance started a campaign to have Mason removed from his job at the Massachusetts State House, urging readers to contact Senate President Therese Murray. After a November 2008 rally, MassResistance called Mason "a hardcore homosexual activist with a long history of venom and rage against people of faith."

The Driving Equality Project

On May 10, 2009, Mason began on a 107-day, 22,000 mile, 48-state trek across the United States in an effort to meet, interview, and share the stories of LGBT Americans, their allies, and their opponents. (www.DrivingEquality.com). Highlighting the differences in rights, laws, and amendments between the states, the projects intention was to shed light on the current social standing of LGBT individuals today. Mason conducted interviews with LGBT activist, allies, and opponents across the country. At the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) he interviewed Shirley Phelps-Roper, a church member who often protests with signs that read "god hates fags". He also interviewed Daniel Nicoletta, protégé of Harvey Milk, in San Francisco. While traveling through Indiana, Chris was stopped by the Indiana State Police. After discussing the pro-LGBT mission of his project, he was allowed to leave but followed for several miles. When he stopped at a rest area, his Driving Equality van was surrounded and searched by five police officers, who damaged professional equipment. The documentary film, Driving Equality Across America, explores Mason's experiences on the road, following his trip across the country as he meets LGBT Americans where they live, in small towns and big cities. Through touching interviews, some heartbreaking, others inspiring, Driving Equality Across America offers a glimpse of the Mason's journey into the heart of LGBT America. The film premiered in Boston on July 31, 2014 to an enthusiastic audience and is available to rent or buy on Amazon.com.

Phelps-A-Thons

On December 12, 2008, Mason conducted his first Phelps-A-Thon as a counter-protest against members of the Westboro Baptist Church, and their leader, Rev. Fred Phelps, who were picketing a production of "The Laramie Project" at the Boston Center for the Arts. The event raised over $1,000 for the pro-LGBT project, Driving Equality. After this first Phelps-A-Thon, people from around the country, upon learning they were going to be picketed by WBC, started contacting Mason, asking for help in setting up their own Phelps-A-Thons.

Mason created a website, "Phelps-A-Thon.com", to assist groups that were being picketed by WBC. Through the "Phelps-A-Thon.com" website, supporters were able to pledge online to donate a certain amount of money for every minute WBC picketed against a specific target, usually LGBT or Jewish groups. The longer they protested, the more money was raised for the cause WBC was demonstrating against.

During a trek across the country to promote LGBT equality, Chris stopped in Topeka, Kansas to visit the Westboro Baptist Church. Concealing his activist identity, he spoke with Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of Fred Phelps, to get a better understanding of why the group feels the need to spread their message. Mason asked her opinion of the Phelps-A-Thon counter-protests and she replied that those pledging to the Phelps-A-Thons should "give a lot of money" because "if you are giving over your soul, make it worthwhile. Don't be lame."